Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-29
FOR MURDER.
Jack True on Trial in the District
Court for His Life.
Fuli Particulars of This Interest
ing Case-True's Own Story
of the Crime.

State VS.. Jack True, for the murder OF
William Price on the bank Of the Chisholm
creek, July 10th, was resumed yesterday
morning The case has attracted consider
able attention, aud the court room was
crowded with spectators. The space within
the railing was filed with members Of the
bar and witnesses; the seats allotted to the
SPECTATORS were all taken and still many
stood I'D in the rear and sides Of the room.
The defendant cool but apparently deeply
interested in the proceeding was
seated in front of the judges bench and be-
side his attorneys, Messrs. Gordon & Coffin
The prosecuting attorney was assisted oy
Mr.. Adams. The jury having been impan-
neled the day before, the introduction OF tes-
timony commenced with the first witness Tor
the state, Coroner j. w. Vineyard. he
| spoke of finding the body on the banks OF the
Chisholm; he made a superficial examina-
ton, it was the body of a colored man about
| 5 feet 0 inches and weighing about 100
pounds There were two large
cuts in the side OF his mead
| Just behind the ear ;exsmined the ground ana
found about sixty or seventy yards above
where the body was dragged from the cresk
evidences of q struggle; found an lndenta-
ton in the ground asif made by mans head.
DR.. Rentz was called in the next morning
and examined the body. Papers were found
| lying near where there were evidences CT
struggle On the Wednesday following the
finding of the body, had talk with defen-
dant regarding the affair.
DR.. Rentz testified that he had examined
the body Sunday morning, July II, while II
was lying at Kendies undertaking establish
ment. There we're two wounds on right side
of the head made by sharp instrument OF
some kind; these wounds would themselves
have proved fatal; the immediate cause OF
death, however, was no doubt drowning
Brock Ellsworth, a young man employed
at Belton's lunc b. counter, corr er Of Douglas
and Lawrence, testified that he saw the de-
fendant on the morning of July 10 in the
restaurant: was acquainted with Price three
or four days; saw him at $50 Saturday
morning counting his money in the restau-
rant. The defendant came in while hs
was so engaged and asked Bolton tt
go with him fishing Price vert ou1
and True followed him. On cross examlna
ton the boy described Price as being da'
having short hair and face clearly shaven
and as being little above the medium
height. He contradicted himself as to SOM
of the minor details; but not as to the mail
fact of seeing the two men together tina
morning.
Jack Bolton, the proprietor Of the restaur
ant or lunch counter, said he had seen the de
!, PENDANT Saturday morning; was not person
ally acquainted with Price He would not
however, undertake to positively identify tn
defendant as the manwho came into his plac
> Saturday morning.
Il Clark Moore, an old celored man living o.
, North Lawrence and in whose house Tru
2 slept, was next put upon the stand. ID
I | Z. stified that he had known the defendan
for twenty -four years, remembered of hear
/ ing of the body being found on the bank
+ The creek: saw True Saturday morning, b
wanted to borrow a fishing line. True toll
. him then that he had to go home and
would go even if he had to walk La tn
q evening about $50 True came into the room
@ dropped a string of fish upon the floor an
I | exclaimed, "Moore, come here, L hav
i got to leave this place. | have murdered
q man. Go up to Mrs. Johnson's for my dog.
4 On cross examination ne said he had been
t preacher but had to give it up on account c
r his inclination to drink; he did not den
while working for B. K Brown, of carryin
a away pair OF shoes.
j T. F. Brown, under sheriff, said he had e.
amiped the ground near where the body we
found. saw the indentation in the GROUND
and the blood.
y John Wilson, living between Seventeen
and Eighteenth streets said that on satul
d day colored man came to h
! house carrying in his han
Of a club and inquired for another colored MAJ
al On cross examination he said that the ms
:. had side whiskers and that he would NJ
e swear the defendant was the person
4 John Rerndon said he did not know if JAG
r true was one Of the two men who passe
d through the yard.
d John Horseman, eu ployed at the brio
D. ward about fifty yards from where the bod
a was found, said be thought he had seen tt
r. defendant pass going down the creek; b'
,e tween and 5 O'Clock he thought he saw hi
e coming from the kiln and going west; |
h had a string of fish in his hand and he
p then, m before him as If examining then
= Ahout ten minutes afterwards he found Il
q hat and blood
Al The first witness called this afternoon We
! Willis Evans. boy about II, living at pre-
n emit at Andale. but in July working at
is brick ward about 300 feet from the hor
% mans He was at the brick yard on Il
n 18th and about o'clotk in the evening sa
10 the defendan and another man The tN
,e walked up to nae and one asked II there WI
Of any work to be had
Of Crosse1amined-Can remember the Ga
20 from, the fac, of the reported murder; "a
~ .ba defendant at the Jail; went there WI
in the 90, ouer: the man that came up first vi
i sbopt six feet aud weighed l6o, hsd beard
~ side Of his face sDd some on his chin; q
=; o.har man WAS not 50 tall, heavier SET, wo
uoola, hat d light clothes; the light C
= oraj man said nothing: the black one "a
rho f-b they started away and went doV
N 70 thu creAk not usual thing for men
s.b tbare il was two or three dsys att
wards VIII. n went TO the jsl; | am WIFI